Lock, latch, and the like



De.; 4, 1945. E. c. DEAL 2,390,076

LOCK, LATCH, AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 7, 1942 V2 Sheets-Sheet 1 llmn 55 58' 1 ragni/lm @Y gli 'fila/C 4 1N V EN TUR. 10 Tras Zus en l vll/MMM Dec. 4, 1945. E, Q DEAL v 2,390,076

LOCK, ILATCH, AND THE L-IKE Filed Aug. '7, 1942 z'sneets-sneet 2 9 f @mummy 7 ALW" E" INVENToR.

Patented Dec. 4, 1945 LOCK, LATCH, AND THE LIKE Erastus C. Deal, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., assignor to Deal Slide-Lock Devices, Inc., Bronx, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 7, 1942, Serial No. 454,049

The present invention relates to locks and locking devices and more particularly to means for increasing the security and adaptability of latches, locking devices and the like.

Th'e purpose of a lock isgenerally two-fold; first, to hold a door or other element closed and to permit it to be opened by turning a knob or a similar device; and secondly, to lock the door so that it cannot be opened without a key. The present invention is adapted for both of these purposes and for various other purposes in preventing slippage and creepage of mechanical elements subjected to pressure, vibration and the like.

The form of lock commonly used heretofore has a retractable member with a cam surface on one side which engages the door easement when the door is closed to retract the member and to permit it to snap into a recess provided in the casement for holding the door closed. There is usually a space between the door and the casement through which one can insert the blade of a knife and by careful manipulation retact the member to open the locked door. Frequently the retractable member and the recess into which the retractable member projects becomes Worn until the engaging surfaces become rounded. This produces a camming action tending to force the locking member into its retracted position permitting the door to open. If the parts are subject to vibrations by reason of their environment, the camming action is accentuated. Such worn parts cause car and other vehicle doors to open, thereby subjecting passengers to serious accidents. Frequently also, the fit between the door and the easement is not accurate and the door is permitted to rattle because the relative position of the retractable member and the recess is not such as to hold the door tightly closed. In other cases,

'in connection with refrigerators, resilient seals are provided between the door and the Casement. These seals become worn and require the door to be closed more tightly to obtain good results. In such cases, the position of the lock or the recess has to be changed from time to time in order to obtain the desired results. The present invention provides a simplemeans of minimizing or overcoming the above objections.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved locking device having wide applications.

Another object of the invention is to provide a more secure locking device.

Another object of the invention is to provide an effective locking member which cannot be retracted by pressure applied to the exposed or effective part thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved means yfor preventing pressure ap- 13 Claims. (Cl. 292-467) plied to the exposed part thereof from retracting the locking member.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which will hold securely on a Worn locking recess or on an angularly disposed surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide an effective locking means which Will prevent accidental opening of car doors and the danger resulting therefrom. 4

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, er will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and descriptio-n and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the lock applied to a door;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the lock illustrated in Fig. 1 viewed from the inside of the door;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the lock taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a side-elevational View from the inside of the door of a slightly different form of lock; Fi. 6 is an end view of the lock illustrated in Fig.

Fig. 'l is a view from the inside of the door of another form of the lock embodying the present invention;

ample, be a door and a Casement or xed member f 2 having a recess 4 for the reception of a retractable member 5 of a lock 6. A pair of wedge members 'I and 8 are mounted back of the retractable member 5 for purposes which will be described hereinafter. The retractable member 5 is operatively connected to the door handle 9 through the intermediation of a bracket I0, which may be welded to the retractable member 5, link I I connected at one end to bracket I by a stud I2 and at its other end t0 a link I4 by a stud I5, link I4, and rod I6 operatively connected to the opposite end of the link I4 and extending through the door to connect with the handle 9. Operation of the handle 9 through the link mechanism described, retracts the member 5 for opening the door. The retractable member 5 is held in its outermost position as shown in Figs, 1 and 2 by means of a spring I8 extending about a stud I9 on the casing and a stud 20 on the end of the member 5. The distance that the retractable member 5 may move under the iniiuence of the spring I 8 is determined by a projection 2| which serves as a stop for the member 22 on link I4.

A suitable channel or casing 24 may be secured to the door by means of brackets welded or otherwise secured thereto and screws 26. The shape of the channel member 24 may be substantially rectangular in section with inwardly bent anges at the sides thereof to expose the inner side of the retractable member 5 for the attachment of the bracket I and to facilitate the connection of the wedge members thereto. The retractable member has a cam surface 28 which is adapted to engage the edge of the easement when the door is closed so that the member may retract and snap into the recess 4. Without the wedge members 1 and 8, there would be little difficulty in inserting a knife in the clearance space at 29 and forcing the retractable member back in steps until the door could be opened. Likewise, if the edge of the recess should be worn as indicated in dotdash lines at 3U, or if the end of the retractable member should be worn, there would be a tendency for the member 5 to be forced into its retracted position. If the door were on a car where it would be subject to constant `iars and vibrations, this tendency would be increased and, in many cases, the door would open, causing damage to the car and likelihood of injury to occupants who might fall out, if leaning against it.

The wedge members 1 and 8 and the parts associated therewith are for the purpose of providing means to prevent movement of the member 5 into retracted position by pressure on the exposed end of the wedge member 1. On the other hand, the wedge member 'I and the member 5 may be readily retracted by pressure on the retractable member 5 which occurs whenever the door is closed and when the handle 9 is turned.

The wedge members and their associated parts comprise a wedge 1 having a wedge surface 1 and an exposed end 1". The wedge member 8 has a wedge surface 8' abutting the wedge surface 1. A flexible member 32, here shown as a strip without any intention of being restricted to the form shown, extends between the wedge surfaces 1 and 8 and has its ends fixed in position by being bent over and soldered to the diagonally opposite ends of the casing at 32 and 32". These ends may be secured in position either to the casing or to some other part of the door in any other suitable manner. As the wedge members are moved back and forth in the channel casing, the wedge surfaces move along the nexible strip 32.

The wedge members vare operatively connected to each other by means of a spring 34 which has its ends bent to fit in recesses 35. Any other suitable means, such as studs, may be used for anconnected respectively to the retractable member 5 by means of screws 31 and 38 passing through the retractable member and extending into slots 31' and 38 in the wedge members. Each of the slots 31' and 38 is elongated slightly and the slots are so located that when the retractable member is moved toward its retracted position, the screw 38 engages the end of the slot 38 prior to the engagement of the screw 31 with the end of the slot 31. This permits the wedge member 8 to be moved away slightly from the flexible member 32 so that it is released to permit it to slide between the wedge surfaces. The screw 31 subsequently engages the end of the slot 31' to cause the wedge member 1 to follow up the wedge mem.l ber 8 in the event that the spring permits the wedge members to move apart sufciently for the screw to engage the end of the slot 31. Hence both wedge members move with the member 5 into retracted position. When the retractable member 5 is moved in the opposite direction under the influence of the spring I8, the screw 31 engages the end of the slotI 31 which moves wedgeA members apart to permit the flexible strip 32 to slide between the wedge surfaces. Thus the wedge member 1 is moved to the left and the spring 34 tends to draw the wedge member 8 behind it. If the spring permits the wedge members to draw apart suiciently, the screw 38 will engage the end oi' the slot 38 and cause the wedge member 8 to follow. The elongated slots 31 and 38' cooperate with the screws 31 and 38 to form a lostmotion connection, whereby the wedge members are separated slightly by the retractable member when moved in either direction. This separation unclamps the ilexible member 32 intermediate the wedge surfaces 1' and 8 and permits the members to move freely with the retractable member 5.

It is to be noted that the extreme end of the member 5 extends beyond the end of the member 1. This is desirable because of the lost-motion connection between the two. The retractable member 5 has to move a short distance before it becomes effective in retracting the wedge members 1; hence the difference in length of the exposed portions of the wedge member 1 and the retractable member 5.

The spring 34 serves resiliently to urge the two wedge members together and to cause them to follow up each other. The spring is not suiiiciently strong to prevent the members from being separated under the action of the retractable member 5. In fact, the spring may be eliminated entirely without rendering the device inoperative. However, the operation of the device is improved by utilizing the spring in addition to the loose link connection with the retractable member 5. The free movement of the wedge members in either direction under the influence of the retractable member 5 will be clear from the above description.

If, however, one inserts a knife blade in the space 29 shown in Fig. 1 and attempts by engaging the exposed portion 1" of the wedge member I to retract the wedge member 1, the pressure applied will force the wedge surface 1 against the wedge surface 8 with the flexible member 32 clamped therebetween. The greater the pressure tending to retract the wedge member 1, the greater will be the clamping action due to the friction between the wedge members 'I and 8 and the fiexible member 32 and also to the friction between the wedge members and the sides of the casing. Hence, the wedge member is locked against retraction except through the intermediation of the retractable member 5. Likewise, if the front of the recess becomes worn and somewhat rounded, as shown by the dot-dash line at 30, the tendency of the cam action of the rounded part to force the wedge members 'I backward will have the same effect. That is, it will tend to clamp the exible member 32 between the wedge surfaces and lock the wedge members securely in position. In some cases, where the front of the recess is worn, the retractable member and the exposed portion 'I' of the Wedge member I may not go fully into the recess, but may stop along the incline or rounded portion 30. In that case, the door will nevertheless be held securely in position since the cam action will be on the exposed portion 1 of the wedgemember 'I and not on the retractable member 5. If the door should rattle, the spring member I8 will force the wedge member 1. and the retractable member 5 completely into the recess. Thus the security of the lock, both in holding the door 2 underv the unusual conditions and in preventing unauthorized persons from opening the door, are improved. The recesses 5' in the sides vof the retractable member are for the purpose of accommodating the front ends of the nange 21,

As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, a suitable cover 40 may be mounted on pins or posts 4i to cover the links II and I4 and the mechanism associated with the door handle on the inside of the door.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 5 and 6, a similar construction is shown operating on a similar principle. The parts for convenience have been correspondingly numbered. The difference between the construction there shown and the one described above in connection with Figs. 1 to 4 is the connection of the handle 9 to the retractable member 5 by means of links I4 and I3. These are located on the outside of the cover 4|) whereas the link mechanism in Figs. 1 to 4 is enclosed within the cover. Springs 44 and 45 supplement the action of the spring I8 in returning the retractable member 5 and may be omitted without impairing the utility of the device, or if desired, springs 44 and 45, or either of them, may be used as a -substitute for spring I B.

The mechanism illustrated in Fig. 7 likewise differs from the preferred embodiment in the connection of the handle 9 with the retractable member 5. In this embodiment, the link I4 corresponding to the link I4 in the preferred embodiment, lits through slots 46 in the side of the casing into a recess 41 in the retractable member 5, thereby eliminating the necessity for additional links such as the link II and bracket I in the preferred embodiment.

The lock is illustrated in Fig. 9 and applied to the door of a refrigerator, where a substantially hermetic seal is required. For this purpose, a rubber gasket 48 is placed intermediate the door I and the easement 2. The recess 4 has the lock engaging side 3E thereof at an angle to the plane of the door casement. It has been found that with age, the rubber cushion 48 used for sealing the door becomes hard and either wears or shrinks; hence, with ordinary locks or latches ther into the slot and engage the surface 30' at a different position. Hence, the inclined surface 3B automatically takes care of any wear or variation in the thickness of the gasket 43. As pointed out above with respect to the preferred embodiment, the inclined surface SII' may apply a force on the exposed portion of the wedge 'l which tends to retract it but such force' serves to lock it securely -in position through the intermediation of the wedge surfaces I and 8', the iiexible member 32 and the sides of the casing as described in connection with the preferred embodiment.

In the modication illustrated in Fig. 10, the wedge member 'I is set into a channel 49 in the upper surface of the retractable member 5. This construction decreases the over all extension of the upper side of the wedge member I above the side of the member 5 on which it is mounted. Where this construction is used, the sides of the retractable member should be recessed at 50 to avoid interference with the flexible member 32.

The operation of the device will be clear from the description given in connection with the preferred embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 and further elaboration at this point would be superfluous.

It will be seen that the present invention provides an improved lock for various doors, including car doors, which has features of increased security, both from the standpoint of preventing accidental opening and from the standpoint of preventing unauthorized persons from opening the door. While a key mechanism for operating the lock is not shown, it will be understood that any suitable arrangement can be utilized for this A purpose. With or'without the key mechanism, the lock has distinct advantages. The parts required for the additional security are of a simple nature and may be added without substantial increase in cost. The parts are rugged in construction and hence there is little likelihood of any breakage, but if such a contingency occurs, the parts may be readily removed and replaced.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention and without sacricing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted asillustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a door lock of the class described, the combination of a member adapted to move in a predetermined direction to secure and release a door, a pair of wedge members having opposed Wedge surfaces, means responsive to the movement of said rst member for moving said wedge members and means, including a flexible member extending between the wedge surfaces of said wedge members and having its ends fixed in position, for locking said wedge members against movement except in response to the movement of said rst member.

2. In a lock, the combination of a member adapted to move when engaged by an object such as a door easement, and adapted to return to its original position when disengaged, a second member operatively connected to said rst member and means, including a flexible member in frictional engagement with said second member, for locking said second member against movement in one direction except in response to the movement of said iirst member.

3. In a lock, the combination of a member having a. cam surface on a side thereof adapted to move said member when engaged by an object such as a door casement, a wed-ge member extending along the side of the rst member opposite to the cam surface, means including a pin and slot connection for operatively connecting said members and means including a second wedge member for locking said first wedge member against movement in one direction except in response to the movement of said rst member.

4. In a door locking device, the combination of a retractable member having a cam surface adapted to engage a door casement and to move said member into retracted position, a second member movable with said retractable member and having an exposed portion adapted to engage the door casement to hold the door closed and means including a flexible strip in frictional engagement with said second member for preventing the retracting of said second member by pressure applied to said exposed portion.

5. In a door locking device, the combination of a retractable member having a cam surface adapted to engage a door casement and to move said member into retracted position, a pair of wedge members movable with said retractable member, said wedge members having opposed wedge surfaces, one of said wedge members having an exposed portion adapted to engage the door casement to hold the door closed and means for preventing the retraction of said wedge member by pressure applied t said exposed portion.

6. In a door locking device, the combination of a retractable member having a cam surface adapted to engage a door casement and to move said member into retracted position, a pair of wedge members operatively connected to and movable with said retractable member, said wedge members having opposed wedge surfaces, one of said wedge members having an exposed portion adapted to engage the door casement to hold the door closed and means, including a flexible member extending between the wedge surfaces of said wedge members with its ends fixed in position, for preventing the retraction of said one wedge member by pressure applied to said exposed portion.

7. In a door locking device of the class described, the combination of a member having a cam surface adapted to engage a door casement for movement in a predetermined direction, a pair of wedge members having opposed wedge surfaces, means connecting said first member and each of said wedge members and permitting only limited relative movement therebetween whereby substantial movement of said first member in one direction will be effective upon one of said wedge members to move the pair of wedge members and substantial movement in the opposite direction will be effective upon the other of said wedge members to move the pair of wedge members in the opposite direction and means for locking said wedge members against movement except in response to the movement of said rst member.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination of a latch member having a cam surface adapted to be engaged for movement in a predetermined direction, a pair of wedge members having opposed wedge surfaces, means loosely connecting said first member to said wedge members effective to move each wedge member in a direction away from the other wedge member, and a flexible member extending between said wedge surfaces having its ends fixed in position to lock one of said wedge members against movement. in a direction away from the cam surface except in response, to movement of said first member.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination of a retractable member having a cam surface for engaging a door casement, means for retracting said retractable member,l a pair of wedge members operatively connected to said retractable member for movement therewith, said wedge members having opposed wedge surfaces and means for locking said wedge members against retraction except in response to the movement of said first member.

10. In a door latch or the like, the combination of a movable member having a cam surface adapted to engage a strike plate and to be moved thereby into its retracted position to permit the closing of a door, a pair of wedge members hav-A in-g opposed wedge surfaces, a casing extending along the sides of said wedge members and means permitting relative movement between the wedge members and the movable member for connecting said wedge members to said movable member, said movable member through said connecting means being adapted to move one of said Wedge members having opposed wedge surfaces away from the other when said movable member is moved in either direction.

1l. In a door latch or the like, the combination of a movable member having a cam surface adapted to engage a strike plate and to be moved thereby into its retracted position, a pair of Wedge members having opposed wedge surfaces, means extending along the sides of said wedge members to hold them substantially in aligned position, and connections including pins in slots for connecting each of said wedge members to said movable member and for permitting said opposed wedge surfaces thereon to move into interlocking relation.

12. In a door latch or the like, the combination of a movable member having a cam surface adapted to engage a strike plate and to be moved thereby into its retracted position, a pair of wedge members having opposed wedge surfaces, means extending along the sides of said wedge members to hold them substantially in aligned position, connections including pins in slots for connecting each of said wedge members to said movable member and a metal strip extending between and separating said wedge surfaces, said metal strip having the ends thereof stationary with respect to said wedge members, the movement of said movable member in either direction being effective through the connections with the wedge members to further separate the wedge surfaces and to permit said strip to slide therebetween.

13. In a door latch or the like, the combination of a movable member having a cam surface adapted to engage a strike plate and to be moved thereby into its retracted position, a pair of wedge members carried by said movable member and having opposed wedge surfaces, the end of one of said wedge members being substantially flush with the end of said movable member adjacent the cam surface thereof, means for connecting said wedge members to said movable member including pins fitting in slots to permit limited relative movement between the' wedge members and said movable member and a guideway for retaining said wedge members movably in position.

ERASTUS C. DEAL. 

